Campdrafting success for Tom Steele and Georgie Hogarth

Tom Steele and Wren from Stonehouse, Lemont, worked the Feedlot Tasmania cattle beautifully at the Hawkridge Forest arena, Powranna, on the weekend to take out the major event on the campdrafting calendar, the Webb & Woodiwiss Open SuperDraft.

Runner up was John Kelly and Twogums Radium from Lilydale, only one point behind to provide a thrilling finish to the competition. 

John Calvert and Tash Wyllie from local company JC Calvert Livestock Cartage put up extra prizemoney for the Ladies Draft, an incentive that worked it the favour of winner Georgie Hogarth and her horse Fee. 

It was Georgie’s first major win with Fee, who impressed onlookers with a top run, achieving an impressive score of 87. 

Hot on her heels was Isabelle Greenhill on the versatile Wren, who also put in a strong effort to finish with a score of 84.

The Bracknell Hotel Cattle Working Challenge Novice saw some determined performances in the Mens, Restricted and Open events.

Will Shoobridge riding Diego from Cleveland Pastoral Estates at Ouse won the Cattle Working Challenge with a strong 83 and the Men’s Draft on 77. 

The Bracknell Hotel Novice Draft was won by local rider Reanna O’Rourke from Bracknell. Her run on her mother Tanya’s horse Mooney was the best score of the day – a fantastic 92. 

The Bracknell Hotel Restricted Open was a hotly contested event, with Tom Matthews from Cressy defeating Georgia Burford-Rowe from Westbury by one point in an exciting run-off. 

Junior Cattle Working winner Matthias Badstuebner and Dalray Django took out the Juvenile Draft and then handed the reins to sister Ada Badstuebner – also riding the same versatile Australian Stock Horse - to win the Juvenile Draft.

Both took home special lead ropes as prizes from Allan Geddes at Latrobe Saddlery.

The action-packed weekend continued with two rounds of an Australian Stock Horse Challenge, thanks to an innovation by the ASH Tas Branch and Committee member Amy Grubb.

Round one was run at the January Draft, with Round two run under the very experienced eye of distinguished horseman Mr Iain Hyde. 

The “Dry Work” – a pattern ridden to specific instructions, was run on the Saturday night, with 18 keen competitors. 

The “Cattle Work Challenge” was run on Sunday – similar to a campdraft, this involves selecting and maintaining control of the beast in the camp, and then around three circles on the arena.

Overall winner of the Open Section was Charlton Rundle from Aberdeen on his young horse Sanville GI Cadet, U18 winner was Gemma King from Westbury on Cawarra Magistrate and winner of the Open Unregistered section was Whitemore rider Catriona Nicholls and Paddy.

Champion Gippsland judges and competitors Vicki and Michael Hiscock also hosted two campdrafting skills clinic days, attracting 28 riders, and also judged the event on the Sunday.